Parents and staff joined Early Childhood Center children in chanting "no more cancer" as they staged a walkathon around the Southwest campus playfield.
The participants, many dressed in pink, braved threatening rain to do their part in raising cancer awareness on "Pink Out Day."
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. However, Mrs. Cheyne Brown said the walkathon was designed to raise awareness of cancer of all kinds.
"We wanted to acknowledge the thousands of children and families who are dealing with cancer and who have passed away from cancer," Mrs. Brown said. She said the children were involved in the walkathon so they can "make a connection" to home. The key message is for families to go to the doctor to catch cancer in the early stages.
Mrs. Brown said two of her students have younger siblings who are undergoing chemotherapy.
According to the U.S. Library of Medicine, children can get cancer in the same parts of the body as adults, but there are differences. Childhood cancers can occur suddenly, without early symptoms, and have a high rate of cure. The most common children's cancer is leukemia. Other cancers that affect children include brain tumors, lymphoma, and soft tissue sarcoma.